YORK City supporters will now be able to watch live football and consume a wider range of drinks at Bootham Crescent's Social Club.

The club will throw open its doors at noon on Saturday to celebrate a new deal with John Smiths Brewery and all visitors, who cannot make the trip to Crawley Town, will be given their first drink free of charge.

There will also be a raffle with prizes including John Smiths merchandise.

The deal with the Tadcaster-based brewery has been brokered by Supporters Trust member Ian Gillies.

A plasma screen has also been installed and there will be a wider range of soft drinks available.

Funds will be made available for the Trust to make further improvements.

The Social Club will continue to open as usual on match days.

But it will also be open, for a one-month trial period, on Saturday afternoons when City are playing away from Bootham Crescent and all games televised by Sky TV and Premiership+ will be shown on the big screen courtesy of the Trust.

Bar steward Don Nixon said: "The venue lies empty most days which is a waste, as it is clearly an asset. With Sky and the big screen, we hope it will draw people down to the club to watch televised games which we have not been able to do before."

There will also be a chance for people to renew their Supporters Trust membership between 4pm and 6pm on Saturday and anybody wishing to vote or stand in the forthcoming elections must join before September 30.

Updated: 10:56 Friday, September 10, 2004